Tobacco-setter.



R. W. HAM.

TOBACCO SETTBE. urmomron nun NOV. 16, 1912.

1,083,090, Patnted Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

SI 14 02 "box [ii/lam,

11 w. HAM. VTOBAGGO SETTER.

APPLIGATIOH FILED NOV. 16, 1912. 1,083,090. 0' v Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROBERT W. HAM, 0F RICHMOND, KENTUCKY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. so, 1913.

Application iiled November 16, 1912. Serial No. 731,789.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT W. HAM, a' citizenof the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Madison andState of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements inTobacco-Setters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an implement designed particularly for settingtobacco plants and is constructed to permit the convenient placing ofthe plant in the ground, properly clamping the earth. thereabout, andfertilizing and watering 'the plant simultaneously with the setting. A

The main ob'ect of the present invention is the provision of animplement by which tobacco plants may be accurately set at the properdepth, clamped about the plant upon the conclusion of the settingoperation and a regulated quantity of fertilizer and water delivered tothe-plant prior to the clamping of the earth thereabout. 4

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in thefollowing specification, referencmbeing had .to .companying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of the implement showing the samein open position assumed ready to set the plant. Fig. 2 is a. similarview of the implement, the parts in the position assumed upon thecompletion the acof the setting operation. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionof the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 5 is adetail of the fertilizer distributor.

' Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, the improvedimplement comprises a spreading member 1 made up of duplicate sections 2and 3. The spread ing member is practicall of inverted conical formationexcept that 'or a portion of its length from the apex end the walls aremore or less flattened. The upper or rounded ends of the sections of thespreading members are provided with ears 4 which are pivotally connectedto permit a spreading action of the lower or free ends of the member inthe operation of the device. From each section of the spreading memberprojects a handle frame including side bars 5 connected at their upperends by a handle 6, the bars 5 being connected to the sections so thatwhen the lower ends of said sections are closed the bars extend upwardlyon divergent lines, so that in the manipulation the earth automatically.

of the handles 6, toward each other said sect ons will be spread. attheir lower ends. Secured between the bars 5 in one of the handlemembersis a tube 7 which may be herelnafter termed the feeding tube throughwhich the plants are fed to beset, this tube preferably extending fromthe upper ends of the handle member to a point below the upper end ofthe spreading member so that the plants are delivered within the upperends of the spreading member. Secured between the bars 5 of the otherhandle member is a tube 8 which is connected to a source the operator bythe manipulation of said valve may control the water delivered throughthe pipe 8. The lower end of the pipe 8 is connected to one only of thebars- 5 of the handle 'member in which said pipe is located, andterminates within the spreadlng member so that the water delivered fromsaid lower end of the pipe 8 will fall within the hole provided for theplant. To

the other bar 5 of the handle member carrying the water pipe is secureda fertilizer box 101 open at its upper end for the introduction offertilizer and formed in the side next "the feed pipe and immediatelyadjacent the bottom of the fertilizer box with an opening 11. A slidebar 12 operates in the fertilizer box extending through the opening 11and connected to one of the opposing handle bars 5. The slide bar isPreferably formed with an opening 13 so positioned that when the handlebars are brought together on the operation of the device the slide baropening is introduced in the fertilizer box and when the handle bars areseparated a. quantity of the fertilizer is withdrawn from the box in theopening 13 and as said opening is moved beyond the edge of thefertilizer box the material will fall from the opening in through thespreading member and be thus delivered to the root of the plant.

Fingers 14: are pivotally mounted on cars projeecting outwardly from theupper end of the spreading member, said fingers being located oppositeend openings between the sections of the spreading member andterminating at their lower ends practically in alinement with the lowerend of the spreading member. The fingers extend upwardly into practicalalinement with the upper ends of the handle member and each finger isconnected by rods 15 to the adjacent handle bar 5 of a handle member.The upper ends of the fingers incline upwardly and outwardly beyond theplane of the handle members so that when said handle members are movedtogether the fingers are separated at their upper ends and forcedinwardly at their lower ends.

In the use of the device the implement is introduced into the groundwith the handle members spread apart forming a. hole through the closedsections of the spreading member. The plant is then fed through the feedtube into proper position in the hole thus formed and the handle membersbrought together to deliver fertilizer to the plant and the valve of thewater pipe manipulated for the admission of the proper quantity of waterto the plants. In bringing the handle members together the specialfingers are also brought together with the result to force the earthabout the root of the plant and hold it in proper position.

It will be obvious from the above description that I have provided animplement in the use of which tobacco plants or other plants may beconveniently and ex editiously set and properly watered and ertilized inthe setting operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A plant setting implement including a spreading member made up ofpivoted sections, handles connected to the sections to spread saidsections, a water tube carried by one of the handles and terminatingwithin the spreading member, a feed tube connected to the other handlemember for the delivery of plants to the spreading member, and afertilizer distributer automatically actuated in the movement of thehandles.

2. A plant setting implement including a spreading member made up ofpivoted sections, handles connected to the sections to spread saidsections, a water tube carried by one of the handles and terminatingwithin the spreading member, a feed tube connected to the other handlemember for the delivery of plants tothe spreading member, a fertilizerbox carried by one of the handle members, a feed bar mounted in said boxand a connection between said feed bar and a remaining handle to operatethe feed bar in the movement of the handles.

3. A plant setting implement including a spreading member made up ofpivoted sections, handles connected to the sections to spread saidsections, a water tube carried byone of the handles and terminatingwithin the spreading member, a feed tube 0011-. nected to the otherhandle member for the delivery of plants to the spreading member, afertilizer box carried by one of the handle members, a feed bar mountedin said box and a connection between said feed bar and a remaininghandle to operate the feed bar in the movement of the handles, andfingers connected with the handles and acting in opposition to thespread of the sections of the spreading member. whereby when saidspreading member sections are open the fingers are brought together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EOBERIQ W. HAM. Witnesses:

D. TEVIS HUGELY, E. B. SMITH.

